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PIttacus, born at Mitylene, was the Son of Hyrrhadius; yet Doris asserts his Father to have been a Thracian. This was he, who together with the Brothers of Alcanus, utterly ruined Melancher the Tyrant of Lesbos. And in the Contest between the Athenians and Mityleneans a∣bout the Territory of Achillitis, he being General of the Mityleneans, challenged Phryno the Athenian Chieftain, to fight with him Hand to Hand; at what time carry∣ing
a Net under his Buckler, he threw it over Phryno's Shoulders, when he least dreamed of any such thing; and by that means having slain his Antagonist, he reco∣vered the Land to the Mityleneans. Af∣terwards according to the relation of A∣pollodorus in his Chronicle, another dis∣pute happening between the Mityleneans and Athenians about the same Land, Pe∣riander, who was made Judg of the Con∣troversy, gave it for the Athenians.
But then it was that the Mityleneans held Pittacus in high Esteem, and surren∣der'd the Supream Government into his Hands, which after he had managed for ten Years, and established those Orders and Regulations that he thought conve∣nient, he again resigned into the Hands of the People, and lived ten Years after that. For these great Benefits done to his Country, the Mityleneans conferred on him a quantity of Land, which he to∣wards his latter End consecrated to Pious Uses. Sosicrates writes, that he restored back the one half of the Land, saying at the same time, That the half was more than the whole. Sometime after, when Croe∣sus sent him a Summ of Money, he refused to accept it, saying that he had twice as much more as he desired. For his Bro∣ther dying without Issue, the Estate fell
to him. Pamphilus in his first Book of Memorandums relates that he had a Son, whose name was Pyrrhaeus, who was kill'd as he was sitting in a Barbers Chair at Cumae, by a Smith that threw a Hatchet into the Shop, for which the Murtherer was sent in Fetters by the Cumans to Pit∣taeus, that he might punish him as he pleased himself. But Pittacus after he had fully examined the Matter, released and pardoned the Prisoner, with this Say∣ing, that Indulgence was to be preferred before Repentance. Heraclitus also relates that when he had taken Alcaeus Prisoner, he let him go, saying, that Pardon was to be preferred before Punishment. He ordained that Drunkards offending in their Drink, should be doubly Punished, to make Men the more wary how they got tipsy; for the Island abounds in Wine.
Among his Apothegms, these were some of the choicest. That it was a difficult thing to be Vertuous. Of which Simonides and Plato in Protagoras make mention. That the Gods could not withstand Necessity. That Command and Rule declare the Genius of the Man. Being demanded what was best? he answered, To do well what a Man is about. To Croesus's Question, which was the largest Dominion? he answered That of the Varie-coloured Wood; mean∣ing
the Laws written upon wooden Tables. He applauded those Victories that were obtained without Bloodshed.
To Phocaicus, who told him they want∣ed a diligent frugal Man; We may seek said he, long enough before we find one. To them that asked him what was most desi∣rable? He answered, Time. To what was most obscure? Futurity. To what was most Faithful? The Earth. To what was most Faithless? The Sea. He was wont to say, that it was the Duty of Pru∣dent Men, before Misfortunes happened, to foresee, and prevent 'em. Of Stout and Couragious Men, to bear their ad∣versity Patiently. Never, said he, talk of thy designs beforehand; lest thy miscar∣riage be derided: never to upbraid the misfortunes of any Man, for fear of just Reprehension: always to restore a Trust committed to thy Care: never to backbite an Enemy, much less a Friend: to practise Piety, and honour Temperance, to love Truth, Fidelity, Experience, Ur∣banity, Friendship and Diligence.
His Axioms were chiefly these: to en∣counter a wicked Man with a Bow and Quiver full of Arrows; for that there was no truth to be expected from a loqua∣cious Tongue, where the Breast conceal'd a double Heart.
He composed about six hundred Elegi∣ac Verses, and several Laws in Prose for the Benefit of his Fellow-Citizens.
He flourished in the forty second Olym∣piad; and died in the third Year of the fifty second Olympiad, during the Reign of Aristomenes, after he had lived above seventy Years, worn out and broken with old Age, and being buried in Lesbos, this Epitaph was engrav'd upon his Mo∣nument.
Here lies the far fam'd Pittacus for whom The mournful Lesbians made this sacred Tomb.
This was he whose general Admonition it was, To observe the Season.
There was also another Pittacus, a Le∣gislator likewise (according to Favorinus in his first Book of Commentaries, and Demetrius in his Homonyma) who was sur∣named the Little. But as for the Great Pittacus, who was also the Wise Pittacus, he is reported, when a young Gentleman came to take his Advice about Marriage, to have returned the same answer, which we find recorded by Callimachus, in the following Epigram.
Hyrrhadius Son, the far fam'd Pittacus, An Atarnaean once demanded thus: My Friends, said he, a double match propose; The one a noble and Wealthy Spouse; In both my equal t'other; now advise My Youth what Choice to make; for thou art Wise. The Weapons of old Age, the Ancient Seer His Staff then raising, go said he and hear, What yonder Children say; for as he spoke The Children in the Street with nimble stroke Their Tops were scourging round: to them he goes: Go see your Match cries one for equal Blows. Which when he heard, the Stranger went his way, Left Birth and Wealth, resolving to obey The Sportive Documents of Childrens Play.
But this Councel he seems to have gi∣ven from woful Experience. For he him∣self had married a noble Dame, the Sister of Draco, the Son of Penthelus, who was a Woman of an insufferable Pride.
This Pittacus was variously nicknamed by Alcaeus, who sometimes called him Splay-Foot, and Flatfooted, sometimes Cloven-footed, because of the Clefts in his Feet, sometimes Gauric, as being perhaps too much affected in his Gate. Sometimes Physcon and Gastron, by reason of his prominent Belly. Sometimes Bat-Eyed,
because he was dim-sighted; and some∣times Agasyrtus, as one that was nasty and careless in his Habit.
His usual Exercise was grinding of Wheat with a Hand-Mill.
There is also extant a short Epistle of his to Croesus.
Pittacus to Croesus.
THOU send'st for me into Lydia to behold thy vast Wealth, but al∣tho'I never yet beheld it, I am content∣ed to believe the Son of Alyattis to be the richest of Monarchs, without desiring to be ever the better for coming to Sardis. For we want no Gold; as having suffi∣cient both for our selves and Friends. Nevertheless I intend to visit thee, were it only to be acquainted with a generous and Hospitable Person.